Transient tic disorder

Definition

Transient tic disorder is a temporary condition in which a person makes one or many brief, repeated, difficult to control movements or noises (tics).

Alternative Names

Tic - transient tic disorder

Causes, incidence, and risk factors

Transient tic disorder is common in children.

The cause of transient tic disorder can be physical or mental (psychological). It may be a mild form of Tourette syndrome.

Symptoms

The child may have facial tics or tics involving movement of the arms, legs, or other areas.

Tics may involve:

Movements that occur again and again and don't have a rhythm

An overwhelming urge to make the movement

Brief and jerky movements that include the following:

Blinking

Clenching the fists

Curling the toes

Flaring the nostrils

Grimacing

Jerking the arms

Kicking

Opening the mouth

Raising the eyebrows

Shrugging the shoulders

Sticking out the tongue

The tics often look like nervous behavior. Tics appear to get worse with stress and do not occur during sleep.

Sounds may also occur, such as:

Clicking

Grunting

Hissing

Moaning

Sniffing

Snorting

Squealing

Throat clearing

Signs and tests

The health care provider should consider physical causes of transient tic disorder before making a diagnosis.

In order to be diagnosed with transient tic disorder, the child must have had tics almost every day for at least 4 weeks, but less than a year.

Other disorders such as anxiety, attention deficit disorder, myoclonus, obsessive-compulsive disorder, epilepsy, and focal dystonia, may need to be ruled out.

Treatment

Health care providers recommend that family members do NOT call attention to the tics at first, because unwanted attention may make the tics worse. If tics are severe enough to cause problems in school or work, behavioral techniques and medications may help.

Expectations (prognosis)

Simple childhood tics usually disappear over a period of months.

Complications

Calling your health care provider

Talk to your health care provider if you are concerned about a transient tic disorder, especially if it continues or disrupts your child's life. If you are not sure whether the movements are a tic or a seizure, call your health care provider right away.